Sara Wuttke

Hi! My name is Mrs. Sara Wuttke. I have lived in Gettysburg since
1980. I am originally from Veblen, SD where I completed my K-12
education.

I graduated from Presentation College and after graduating from there
I worked at the South Dakota School for the Visually Impaired. I also
graduated from Black Hills State University with a double major in
Elementary Education and Special Education. I taught Title I for five
years, Special Ed for one year, and am starting number 30 in first
grade! I graduated from Presentation College and Black Hills State
University.

My husband, Bill, is a GHS graduate as are our three daughters. My
hobbies are visiting our daughters and their families; especially our
three grandchildren, reading, and doing bus tours.

I have wanted to be a teacher as long as I can remember. The best
part, about being a teacher, is when a student figures something out
and you can see the “lightbulb” turns on. It is so rewarding.

Rules and Expectations

Building Reading and Writing Skills

Most critical in first grade is the development of reading and
writing skills. Your child will move from pre-reading skills to
building crucial language skills in reading, spelling and writing. At
home you can rea stories aloud and ask questions such as “Who are the
characters in the story?’, “Where does the story take place? and “What
happened in the beginning, middle and end of the story?”

Mastering Math Skills

In Math your child will learn addition and subtraction facts. They
will identify patterns in numbers and objects. Practice these skills
at home by asking your child to spot repeating patterns in daily life
and surroundings.

Read aloud first grade books and higher with accuracy and
understanding.

By the end of the school year they should be able to read at least
60 words per minute.

Quickly answer addition and subtraction facts up to 20.

Physical and Social Skills You Can Expect of a First Grader

Listen for longer periods of time.

Work independently at their desk.

Listen to longer sets of directions.

Relate experiences in greater detail and in a logical way.

Be able to plan ahead.

Complete seatwork and hand in homework the next day.

Use good manners like “please” and “thank you.”

We will arrive rested and ready to learn every day.

We will share.

WE WILL HAVE FUN!!

Assuming Responibilites and Routines

In first grade your child will begin to assume responsibility and
reinforce learning through homework. You’ll want to prepare a quiet,
organized work area and set aside time for your child to do homework
daily.

Since first grade is such a change from kindergarten, it becomes very
important for parents to help their child set the stage for a great
day. We know that we all feel poorly when we do not receive enough
rest or do not eat properly. It is up to the parents to ensure that
their child learns these good habits. It is very important that they
are in school daily. At this age so many things are at the building
stage, and they need to be there or each step.

Teaching your child independence is one of the most important jobs a
parent has. One way to accomplish this is to develop daily routines
that a child can follow. Have them follow a morning routine and an
evening routine. A child does better when he knows what is going to
happen next.

Class Information

ELA

In reading your child will have a different skill each week that they
will work on. At the end of the week they will have a Weekly Test over
that story and skills. They will be tested on high Frequency Words,
Phonics, Comprehension, and a writing assignment. They will also be
learning to read more fluently and with expression.

In spelling they will have 12 words a week and a sentence to write
correctly.